Earring



April 23, 1946. c. c. BELCK 2,398,995

EARRING Filed June a, 1944 Patented Apr. 23, 1946 UNITED STATES OFF-ICE EARRING J Cornelius 0. Beck, Ajltoona l a. ,v I Application June 8, 1944,Serial-No. 539,310

6 Claims.

shank on the rear face and provided with an opening for receiving the thread or ordinary flat buttons having two or more thread receiving holes perpendicular to the outer face of the button.

Therefore, the present invention contemplates a' support which will enable the owner or user readily and quickly to utilize buttons of either type to match the buttons of the particular attire used for the occasion.

A further object of the invention is to provide an earring including an ornament support having novel features of construction which permit of readily mounting the button in position by the mere act of threading it on the support, and thereafter holding it in place; that is, against accidental displacement.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ear clamp or ornament support constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an auxiliary clip used in connection with supporting buttons of the hole type.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the invention showing the same supporting a shank button, in section.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the invention when used in connection with a fiat button.

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views respectively of a shank button and a, fiat button.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts'throughout the several figures of the drawing. I

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the same includes an ear clamp or support designated generally as A, and preferably of substantially U-shaped formation providing the arms I and 2. The arm I may be provided at its upper end with the conventional'ear engagingscrew 3.; Since the novelty of the present inventionresides more especially in connection with the arm -2 which carries the ornamentflt will, of courseQbe understood that the ear clamp designated generally as A may beg'of 'the-wellknown spring-clamp type insteadof the screwtype shown. v

Referring to the arm 2, it will be observed that the same is provided, in the example shown, medially or thereabout, with-a deformation or offset portion 4 which provides effect a shoulder 5 which constitutes an abutment for an ornament, as willpresently appear. The deformation 4 is preferably made in the direction of the plane of the arms I and 2. However, it will, of course, be

understood that deformation in any angular di-' rection to provide the abutment or shoulder 5 will be within the terms and objects of the present invention. While the deformation shown provides a-convenient way of making the abutment inte-f gral with the arm, itwill be apparent that the same result may be obtained by soldering or otherwise attaching a part which will serve the same purpose and function.

The upper end 6 of the arm 2 is preferably bent at an oblique angle to the major axis of the arm, and, in the example shown, in the direction substantially at right angles to the deformation 4. The oblique angular disposition of the upper end 6 of the arm is such that it acts as a detent or retaining means for preventing accidental upward displacement of the ornament.

As previously indicated, the present invention is particularly intended for use in connection with buttons of the shank type B, shown in Figure7, or the flat type B, shown in Figure 8. The shank s of the button B has an opening or perforation generally parallel to the rear face of the button. On the other hand, the fiat button B has its thread-receiving holes or perforations perpendicular or at right angles to the opposite faces of the button.

Assuming that it is desired to select a button of the shank type B as the ornament for the ear clamp, it will be seen that it is only necessary to manipulate the arm 2 in such a way as to thread the obliquely disposed portion 6 through the opening of the shank of the button B and then move the arm relative to the shank until the latter engages the portion of the arm between the lower end of the part 6 and the abutment 5. The shank will then be detachably supported between the oblique end of the arm and the abutment, as shown in Figure 5.

In the event that it is desired to choose a flat button B of the type shown in Figure 8, then it is necessary to use an auxiliary clip of. th e type shown in Figure 4,.or itss equiva-lfent. This clip may be made of" fine wire and is or substan tially U-shaped formation tothereby include the transverse portion I and the legs 8 having the terminal eyes 9 formed therefrom. The legs of the at an angle to the major axis of the arm to prevent accidental displacement of an impaled ornament in a direction opposite to that in which it' is placed on the arm.

2. An article of jewelry for interchangeably supporting difierent ornaments on the human ear, comprising, a substantially U-shaped ear clamp having one arm thereof provided with a medial abutment and its free end bent at an angle. to the major axis of. the arm to provide means for normally retaining thefornament in position.

3. In an earring, the combination, including i a substantially U-shaped ear clamp having one clip are so spaced as to span the distance between a pair of openings or holes h of the button 3'.

Note for example Figure 6. As will beiseen from this figure, the clip is passed through the holes in the button so that the eyes 9 will engage over the oblique portion 5 of the arm 2 and thus become positioned between the lower endv of; the oblique or offset portion 6 and the shoulder 5. When in thisposition, thebutton B will beheld against accidental. displacement.

It has, already beenv shown how the buttons may be fitted to or impaled on the can support or car clamp A, and, it will on course. be understood that in order toremove the same, it isonly necessary to manipulate. the. support. relative to the button in the reverse direction to that in which ;t was manipulated to mount the button on the arm- 2. A

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that. the present invention makes it possible to utilize buttons of the types referred to, interchangeably,.as ornaments onsan earring support-1..

Without further. description, it; believed that the advantages of the invention. will be. readily apparent to those skilled in the art it will of course be understood thatchanges; the form; proportion, and d etailsof constructionimay beresorted to within the scope ofthe appended claims.

' 1; An; article of; jewelry for interchangeably supporting difierentt ornaments. on the human: ear, comprising, a support having means; orengaging' theear andalso having anorna-ment car.- rying arm provided medially thereof with: an-

abutment, the end of said. arm: being disposed arm provided with ornament positioning and holding means, a flat ornament having holes at rightangles to its opposite faces, and a U-shaped 1 ciipadapted to pass through said holes and having terminal eyes to be slidably impaled on said arm;

4. An earring for interchangeably supporting diiferent. ornaments on the human. ear, comprising, a. substantially u-shaped ear clamping membe]: having. one arm thereof deformed laterally substantially medially of the arm andhaving its upper end bent at an oblique angle and adapted to be threaded into a portion of anornarnent.

5. An earring for interchangeably supporting. different ornamentsv on the human ear, comprising,'a substantially U-shaped ear clamping memher, one, of the arms of said member being. bent medially'thereof in the plane of both arms to provide an intermediate abutment, and the free end of said last-mentioned arm having the upper end thereof bent at oblique angle to the major axis of'the arm" and in a direction substantially at right angles to the bent portion forming the abutment, thereby to provide means/for holding an ornament positioned 'between the1bent end and the abutment against; accidental displacement.

6. An article of jewelry for interchangeably supporting different ornaments, on the human ear; comprising; asupport having means for. en-

-. gaging the ear; and also having an arm including a free upper end provided with a ,detent portion; saidarm also having an abutment spaced below said det'ent' portion and cooperatingtherewith to provide means for releasably sustaining an ornament in exhibiting position.

' CORNELIUS C. BECK. 

